Two Thieves

#17	TWO THIEVES "Lord, remember me," Luke 23:42

Two thieves or robbers were crucified with Jesus, but they were being justly put to death for their crimes. Jesus was not. He was the sinless Son of God. On the central cross the Son of God was giving His life a Ransom for many, and on either side of the central figure there was a dying thief. It would have been much better to have been one of those thieves, the one who said, "Lord, remember me," than it would to have been the other one who failed to call upon the Lord for salvation.
We see such a horrible picture at the crucifixion. Both thieves railed upon the Lord Jesus at first, but one of them repented and cried for help. He didn't cry to the soldiers, nor to Pilate, but he cried to the One on the middle cross who was also dying. He realized that Christ was dying for sinners, and knowing that he was a sinner he said, "Lord, remember me." That was all that he had to do in order to be saved, simply believe that the One who was dying there was the Son of God, and that Christ was able to save a poor sinner in his condition. But the sad part of it is that the other thief failed to say, "Lord, remember me." Just such simple little words, and words that, coming from his heart, would have kept his soul out of hell for eternity, but he wouldn't say them. Instead of asking the Lord to remember him, he cursed the Lord and railed upon Him in his teeth. There he was, so near to the Savior, yet so far from salvation; so near to eternal life and yet choosing eternal damnation and torment; so near to the Son of God, and with one little cry could have been made "Joint-heir" with Him, but still he remained the son of perdition; so near to the only hope he had in this world or the world to come, yet he died without hope.

Surely 末末 One dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away,

but 末末 The other dying thief failed to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, the same as he,
Pass my last chance away.

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Evangelist and Pastor, Dr. Marvin Lewis